Government Information: International
This guide is prepared to give you quick access to government resources - Federal, state, local, and international.
Getting Started
International Government Information
- search Fondren Library online catalog by keyword, international organization name (e.g. United Nations), title, or author. You can use the box here below to get started.
- use the links in the boxes on this web page
- use paper indexes and reference sources that are located in the Kelley Center in Fondren's basement. Contact Kelley Center if you need assistance: call 713.348.5483, or email govhelp@rice.edu.
Also Try
- Fondren Library DatabasesSearch databases by "All Subjects".
Also use the search box to type in "Government" to search government related databases.
News Sources
- World News Connection (Rice Only)Terminated effective Dec. 31, 2013. See shutdown explanation.
- Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily Reports (FBIS) This link opens in a new windowThe original mission of the FBIS was to monitor, record, transcribe and translate intercepted radio broadcasts from foreign governments, official news services, and clandestine broadcasts from occupied territories, providing a wealth of information from all countries outside of the U.S.—from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe."
Electronically Fondren Library owns FBIS Daily Reports for the Middle East & Africa, Near East & South Asia 1974-1996 and Annexes 1974-1996.
Search the catalog for other holdings in microform.
Government/Politics
- Political Database of the Americas This link opens in a new windowJoint project between Georgetown University and other organizations has documentary and statistical political information on Latin America, including constitutions, electoral laws, legislative and executive branch information and election data.
Statistics
- Handbook of International Economic StatisticsMap, chart and table presentations of international economic statistics. Check library catalog for new editions.
- International Economic Database (IES) This link opens in a new window
- Statistics Canada This link opens in a new window
- Statistics of Mexico This link opens in a new window
United Nations
Fondren Library holds thousands of historical collections of UN publications. Some are in paper and some in microform format, which can be searched using OneSearch, the Library's online catalog available through the Library's website. For access to more recent UN publications in full-text format, please use the links provided below. If you need any assistance with finding and accessing the UN publications, please don't hesitate to contact the Kelley Center at govhelp@rice.edu.
- UN Digital Library (UNDL)The content goes back to 1946. It includes sales publications in addition to UN documents, which are excluded from ODS.
- UN-iLibraryThe content goes back to 1946.
Multinational Organizations
- Dag Hammarskjold LibraryThe main page of the Dag Hammarskjold Library. To find information you need, please hover over the bar located on the top right side of the page.
- UN Documents This link opens in a new windowAvailable documents include the UN Journal, as well as documents from the General Assembly, Security Council, Human Rights Council, Economic and Social Council and others.
- United Nations Treaty SeriesThis database provides indexing of and access to: United Nations Treaty Series
- United Nations Digital Library (UNDL)Free open-source UN database providing a single access point to UN information, current and historical.
U.S. Government International Information
- CIA's World Factbook This link opens in a new windowFrom the Central Intelligence Agency, this site provides country information organized by country, region, or topic. Topics include communications, defense, economy, flag and map, geography, government, people and transportation.
- Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices2000 and 2001 reports only.
- Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade PracticesAvailable for 1993-1999. Congress abolished the reports in fall 2002.
- Country Reports on Human Rights PracticesArchive of reports
- Country Studies/Area HandbooksBackground information and a list of countries is available from the website. The series is no longer published, but is accessible for historical purposes
- Historical Diplomatic ListThrough 2016
- Key Officers of Foreign PostsThe above link is the current directory listed in the State Department's telephone directory page, scroll down to "Key Officers" to see the current list.
For older directories, please see HathiTrust digital library Key officers of foreign service posts.
- Portals to the World This link opens in a new window
- Treaties in ForceTreaties in Force is published annually by the Department of State to provide information on treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is presently a party. It lists those treaties and other international agreements in force for the United States as of the stated publication date for each edition. For older issues please search the library catalog.
- U.S. Overseas Loans and Grants (Greenbook)Produced annually for Congress, this report provides an historical record of U.S. aid to other countries in the world in either historical or constant dollars. Uses standard or customized tables to report all loans and grants authorized by the U.S. Government for each fiscal year including military assistance.
See the link on the USAID's Foreign Aid Explorer website under reports. - U.S. relations with (country name)State Department series formerly titled Background Notes. Title on page: U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets.
Open Source International Databases
- D-Place: Database of Places, Languages, Culture and Environment"Brings together a dispersed body of information on the language, geography, culture and environment of more than 1,400 human societies." Find information on pre-industrial societies described by anthropologists mainly in the 19th and early 20th centuries [pre-1950]..
Selected List of International Organizations
- G7 (Group of 7 Industrialized Democracies)In 2014, the G8 reverted to the original G7 when Russia was removed for issues involving Ukraine sovereignty and territory
International Information from Libraries
Web Address: library.rice.edu | Physical Address: 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005 | Mailing Address: MS-44, P.O. Box 1892, Houston, Texas 77251-1892 | Phone: 713-348-5698 | © 2014 Rice University